Alli is an over-the-counter diet supplement that contains orlistat, a drug also sold in prescription strength. It assists weight loss by blocking fat absorption. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added a warning to the Alli label stating that the drug can cause severe liver injury in rare cases. If you have hepatitis C, a liver disorder, do not take Alli unless your doctor approves.
Mechanism
Alli works by blocking lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat, and inhibiting fat absorption. The drug keep you from absorbing about a third of all the fat you eat, according to Drugs.com. This reduces the number of calories you take in, resulting in weight loss.The drugs only blocks fat. It has no effect on carbohydrate or protein absorption. By blocking fat, the drug may also lower cholesterol levels.
Risks
If you have hepatitis C, you may already have liver damage from inflammation caused by the virus. You want to avoid any drugs that could increase your risk of liver damage. Of the 13 cases of liver injury reported to the FDA, two patients died, and three required liver transplant. Symptoms of liver damage include nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, fatigue, upper-right-quadrant abdominal pain, darker than normal urine and pale stools.
Studies
The University of Pittsburgh in 2008 began recruiting participants for an ongoing clinical trial on the use of orlistat among obese people with hepatitis C. The purpose of the study, scheduled to end in December 2011, is to see if losing weight improves response to anti-viral therapy. Those in clinical trials are medically supervised. If you have hepatitis C, do not attempt this on your own unless your doctor recommends it.
Considerations
Orlistat, the active drug in Alli, may help you lose a modest amount of weight -- about 3 to 5 lbs. a year, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Because Alli's safe use in people who already have liver damage has not been established, talk with your doctor before taking this drug, even though it's sold as an over-the-counter product.
References
- Drugs.com: Alli
- Hepatitis C Association; FDA Adds Risk for Severe Liver Injury to Orlistat Label; Robert Lowes; May 2010
- University of Pittsburgh: Increasing Cure Rate of Hepatitis C Therapy in Obese Hepatitis C Patients
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Drug Safety Communication: Completed Safety Review of Xenical/Alli (Orlistat) and Severe Liver Injury; May 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Alli Weight-Loss Pill: Does It Help?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.; June 2010
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